A patent by Sony got things heated.

This patent popped up on Reddit, and for a good reason, as its title is „Scalable game console CPU/GPU design for home console and cloud gaming.” The abstract/summary follows: „In a multi-GPU simulation environment, frame buffer management may be implemented by multiple GPUs rendering respective frames of video, or by rendering respective portions of each frame of video. One of the GPUs controls HDMI frame output by receiving frame information from the other GPU(s) and reading out complete frames through a physically connected HDMI output port. Or, the outputs of the GPUs can be multiplexed together.”

The alternate frame rendering (AFR) might be known to you on PC as Crossfire and SLI. The other option mentioned in the abstract is SFR or split frame rendering. But let’s dive more into this patent: „As understood herein. SoC technology can be applied to video simulation consoles such as game consoles, and in particular, a single SoC may be provided for a ‘light’ version of the console while plural SoCs may be used to provide a ‘high-end’ version of the console with greater processing and storage capability than the ‘light’ version. The ‘high end’ system can also contain more memory such as random-access memory (RAM) and other features and may also be used for a cloud-optimized version using the same game console chip with more performance.”

SoC is system-on-a-chip. However, it might not necessarily mean a high-end version of the console would equal to a PlayStation 5 Pro. Instead, the PlayStation 5 might have not one but two AMD Radeon Navi (RDNA 2) based GPUs in it, or increased storage space or RAM. The cloud portion points at PlayStation Now. Also, there could be a way to upgrade your PlayStation 5 to a PlayStation 5 Pro by buying a potential upgrade kit in-store by Sony. (At this rate, they could do PCs. Just ask Konami.)

Keep in mind that not every patent’s contents turn into things used in games or consoles, but Sony kept the door open for the future.

Source: PSU

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